NHL Big Hits

NHL Big Hits

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In what may be the most thunderous check of the young season, Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf sent Senators winger Denis Hamel skyward with an open-ice hit on Oct. 12 in Ottawa.

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Ryan Kesler of the Canucks tried mightily to deposit Edmonton's Matt Greene on Vancouver's bench at General Motors Place on Oct. 16.

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Mike Modano of the Stars did not appear to enjoy being treated rudely by Sean Avery of the Kings on Oct. 14 in Los Angeles.

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Nashville winger J.P. Dumont looks like he's on his way to dreamland after a sudden meeting with Coyotes defenseman Ed Jovanovski on Oct. 14.

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Shark hittin': Lukas Krajicek of the Canucks elevated the play of the Sharks' Jonathan Cheechoo during their collision at General Motors Place on Oct. 13.

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Chicago defenseman Adrian Aucoin appears to have taken Brad Richardson's head off while sending him into the boards as the Blackhawks battled the Avalanche on Oct. 16 in Colorado.

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Roman Polak of the Blues was a pain in the glass for Yan Stastny of the Bruins during their Oct. 12 game at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

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Kris Draper of the Red Wings crowned and downed the Kings' Derek Armstrong with a royal hit on Oct. 16 in Los Angeles.

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Jarret Stoll of the Oilers was sent flying on Oct. 7, courtesy of Calgary's rockin' Robyn Regehr.

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Michael Peca of the Maple Leafs gave the bold shoulder to Garth Murray of the rival Canadiens during the teams' first meeting of the season, in Toronto on Oct. 7.

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Sergei Zubov of the Stars likely saw them after his mug kissed the boards, thanks to a bone-rattler by Erik Rasmussen of the Devils on Oct. 7 in Dallas.

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Dion Phaneuf's magical power to make opposing players fly was on display in Montreal on Oct. 17. In this case, the Canadiens' Sergei Samsonov was sent packing.